ASUS Pro WS W880-ACE SE
ASUS Pro WS W880-ACE SE Specifications Review
ASUS Pro WS W880-ACE SE by ASUS is a Standard-ATX form factor motherboard based on the high-end W880 chipset and LGA 1851 socket, offering the most advanced features and connectivity options. It is designed to support DDR5 memory, with 4 slots, a maximum capacity of 256 GB, and an overclocking speed of up to 9066 MHz.
VRM Quality
The ASUS Pro WS W880-ACE SE comes with an entry-level VRM setup, delivering 90 A across 8 phases. Works best with CPUs in the ~65–105 W TDP range. Can technically run higher-TDP processors at stock, but will likely experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads. Suited for budget gaming, office PCs, and home builds without heavy CPU demands.
See the VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table at the bottom of this page for recommended CPU options.
Expansion and Storage Overview
The ASUS Pro WS W880-ACE SE offers a very extensive expansion and storage configuration with PCIe 5.0 support, meaning it uses PCI Express 5.0, the newest standard offering extremely high bandwidth for next-generation graphics cards and ultra-fast NVMe storage. It also includes 3 x16 slots . These PCIe slots are used to connect expansion cards — with the x16 slots typically reserved for graphics cards, while x8, x4, and x1 slots are used for devices like capture cards, sound cards, or network adapters.
For storage, this motherboard provides 4 M.2 slots (PCIe 5.0 x4, PCIe 4.0 x4) and 8 SATA ports. M.2 slots are high-speed connectors for modern NVMe SSDs, which are much faster than older storage, while SATA ports are used for traditional hard drives and 2.5-inch SSDs. Together, they allow you to mix fast primary storage with larger, more affordable drives for bulk data.
Connectivity Overview
This motherboard offers solid and reliable connectivity features, including wired 2 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet 1 x Realtek 1Gb Ethernet dedicated for AST2600 ethernet supporting speeds up to 2500 Gbps. It also provides a good selection of modern USB ports to cover most connectivity needs. For exact USB specifications, please see the detailed table.
For video output, this motherboard includes HDMI version 2.1 , USB-C DisplayPort . These video outputs are intended for integrated graphics and will only function if your CPU includes integrated GPU capabilities.
Audio Quality
This motherboard features a quality mid-range audio solution (Realtek ALC1220P), offering noticeably better sound than basic implementations. With dedicated audio components, it provides detailed, dynamic sound suitable for gaming headsets, bookshelf speakers, and users who appreciate good audio without external equipment.
Overall Quality and Value
ASUS Pro WS W880-ACE SE is a premium motherboard boasting a high overall quality score of 80.00. It offers excellent build quality and a rich feature set, delivering top-tier performance suitable for gamers and power users seeking robust and reliable hardware with extensive connectivity and expandability.
This motherboard shows a 33.8% value score indicating less favorable price-to-performance compared to mainstream models. This is typical for high-end motherboards, which prioritize premium features, durability, and advanced capabilities over raw value. It is an excellent choice for users who favor top quality, cutting-edge technology, and robust performance and are willing to invest more without focusing primarily on price.
General Information
| Manufacturer | ASUS |
|---|---|
| Motherboard Name | ASUS Pro WS W880-ACE SE |
| Current Price Amazon | $450 |
| Amazon Price Updated | 6 hours, 40 minutes ago. |
| Motherboard Available | True |
| Chipset / Socket | W880 / LGA 1851 |
| Form Factor | Standard-ATX |
VRM Configuration
| CPU Power Phases (Amps) | 8 (90 A) |
|---|---|
| Power Design | 8+1+2+2 |
Memory Information
| Type / Slots | DDR5 / 4 slots |
|---|---|
| Max Capacity / Max OC | 256 GB / 9066 MHz |
PCIe Slot Configuration
| Supported Version | PCIe 5.0 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Size | Physical Slots | Gen5 | Gen4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| x16 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Storage Configuration
| M.2 Slot Count | 4 slots |
|---|---|
| M.2 Supported Lengths | 2242, 2260, 2280 |
| M.2 PCIe Modes | PCIe 5.0 x4, PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| SATA Ports | 8 |
Onboard Audio Features
| Audio Chipset | Realtek ALC1220P |
|---|---|
| Analog Audio Jacks | 2 jacks |
| Spatial/Surround Audio | ✔️ Rear Output Supports Spatial Audio |
Motherboard Display Outputs
| HDMI Output | HDMI - Version 2.1 (Max: 4K@60Hz) |
|---|---|
| DP over USB-C | DisplayPort over USB-C - Version 2.1 (Max: 8K@60Hz with DSC) |
USB and Thunderbolt Connectivity
Rear USB Ports
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps) | 6 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C (20 Gbps) | 1 |
| USB4 / Thunderbolt Type-C (40 Gbps) | 1 |
Internal USB Headers
| USB 2.0 Header (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header (5 Gbps) | 2 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Header (20 Gbps) | 1 |
Networking Information
| Ethernet | Chipset: 2 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet
1 x Realtek 1Gb Ethernet dedicated for AST2600 LAN Ports: 3 |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi |
Module: Not Included |
| Bluetooth | Supported: No |
Button Features
| Buttons |
BIOS Flashback Clear CMOS |
|---|
Quality & Features
Additional Information
| RAM | Supports ECC and Non-ECC Un-buffered, Clocked Unbuffered DIMM (CUDIMM). Features include DIMM Fit, DIMM Flex, and ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile III (AEMP III). Supported memory types, data rate, and number of DRAM modules vary depending on the CPU and memory configuration. Non-ECC, un-buffered DDR5 memory supports On-Die ECC function. |
|---|---|
| Display | Includes a VGA port from AST2600. The Intel Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) port also supports Thunderbolt video outputs. In Thunderbolt 4 mode, the maximum total bandwidth is up to 23.8Gbps. In DP alt mode, it supports up to UHBR20. Graphics specifications may vary between CPU types. |
| Expansion | The two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots support either a single card at x16 mode or two cards at x8/x8 mode. The PCIe 4.0 x16 slot operates at a maximum of x4 mode. |
| Storage |
M.2 Slot Details:
Total of 8 SATA 6Gb/s ports are supported (4 dedicated ports and 4 via SlimSAS connector). The SlimSAS_1 connector supports either PCIe 4.0 x4 mode or up to 4 SATA devices via a separately purchased adapter cable. When the SlimSAS connector is connected to a U.2 device, it does not support VMD/RST. Intel Rapid Storage Technology supports PCIe RAID 0/1/5/10 and SATA RAID 0/1/5/10. |
| Audio | Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs. Internal audio Amplifier to enhance the highest quality sound for headphone and speakers. Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking. High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR recording input (Line-in). Supports up to 32-Bit/192 kHz playback. |
| Networking | One Realtek 1Gb Ethernet port is dedicated for AST2600. |
| Dimensions | 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm |
Note: The specifications and descriptions above are extracted by AI to present the official manufacturer data in a clearer and more natural way for easier understanding. However, this AI-processed information may contain inaccuracies. Please verify all details by consulting the official manufacturer's information provided below.
ASUS Pro WS W880-ACE SE Compared to Motherboards with Similar Performance and Features
Motherboard Quality & Features per Price Table
| Motherboard (Desc) | Price (Desc) | Overall_Q (Desc) | VRM_Q (Desc) | Chipset (Desc) | Exp_Str (Desc) | Connect (Desc) | Audio (Desc) | Q&F/Price (Desc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$180
|
0.0%
|
85.0%
|
72.0%
|
90.0%
|
91.0%
|
85.0%
|
87.0%
|
89.7%
|
|
|
$259
|
0.0%
|
84.4%
|
63.0%
|
92.0%
|
109.0%
|
77.0%
|
81.0%
|
61.9%
|
|
|
$130❗
|
0.0%
|
84.4%
|
71.0%
|
94.0%
|
94.0%
|
82.0%
|
81.0%
|
123.4%
|
|
|
$236
|
↓
0.0%
|
83.2%
|
63.0%
|
97.0%
|
103.0%
|
72.0%
|
81.0%
|
67.0%
|
|
|
$450
|
0.0%
|
80.0%
|
36.0%
|
100.0%
|
110.0%
|
76.0%
|
78.0%
|
33.8%
|
|
|
$200
|
0.0%
|
76.8%
|
60.0%
|
100.0%
|
110.0%
|
69.0%
|
45.0%
|
73.0%
|
|
|
$250❗
|
0.0%
|
76.4%
|
62.0%
|
90.0%
|
50.0%
|
84.0%
|
96.0%
|
58.1%
|
|
|
$385❗
|
↓
-3.8%
|
76.0%
|
56.0%
|
97.0%
|
51.0%
|
81.0%
|
95.0%
|
37.5%
|
|
|
$300
|
0.0%
|
75.8%
|
51.0%
|
100.0%
|
56.0%
|
84.0%
|
88.0%
|
48.0%
|
Motherboard Comparison and Detail Specifications Table
| Specification | Perf Chart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price |
$180
|
0.0%
|
$259
|
0.0%
|
$130❗
|
0.0%
|
$236
|
↓
0.0%
|
$450
|
0.0%
|
$200
|
0.0%
|
$250❗
|
0.0%
|
$385❗
|
↓
-3.8%
|
$300
|
0.0%
|
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| Manufacturer | ASRock | GIGABYTE | MSI | GIGABYTE | ASUS | ASUS | ASRock | ASUS | MSI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chip/Socket | Z890 / LGA 1851 | Z890 / LGA 1851 | Z890 / LGA 1851 | Z890 / LGA 1851 | W880 / LGA 1851 | Z890-P / LGA 1851 | Z890I / LGA 1851 | Z890-I / LGA 1851 | Z890I / LGA 1851 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Mini-ITX | Mini-ITX | Mini-ITX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CPU Phases | 18 (80 A) | 16 (80 A) | 16 (90 A) | 16 (80 A) | 8 (90 A) | 14 (80 A) | 12 (110 A) | 10 (110 A) | 10 (110 A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PWR Design | 18+1+1+1+1 | 16+1+2 | 16+1+1+1 | 16+1+2 | 8+1+2+2 | 14(80A) + 1(80A) + 2(80A) + 1(80A) | 12+1+1+1+1 | 10+1+2+1 | 10+1+1+1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mem Slots | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 2 / DDR5 | 2 / DDR5 | 2 / DDR5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max Mem | 256 GB / 9466 MHz | 256 GB / 9500 MHz | 256 GB / 9200 MHz | 256 GB / 9200 MHz | 256 GB / 9066 MHz | 256 GB / 8666 MHz | 128 GB / 9866 MHz | 128 GB / 9200 MHz | 128 GB / 8600 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe Slots | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 1x4 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 2x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 2x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 2x16 Gen4 | 2x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 3x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M.2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Audio | Realtek ALC1220 | Realtek® ALC1220 CODEC | Realtek® ALC1220P | Realtek® ALC1220 CODEC | Realtek ALC1220P | Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 | Realtek ALC4082 Audio Codec | ESS® SABRE9260Q DAC | Realtek® ALC4080 Codec | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S/PDIF | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HDMI | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DP | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ (2.1) | ❌ | ✔️ (1.4) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAN | - 2.5 Gigabit LAN 10/100… (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | Realtek® 8126 5Gbps LAN (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | 2 x Intel® 2.5Gb Etherne… (3 ports) | 1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethern… (1 ports) | 5 Gigabit LAN 10/100/100… (1 ports) | 1 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet (1 ports) | 1x Intel® Killer™ E5000B… (1 ports) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | ❌ | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BT | v5.4 | v5.4 | v5.4 | v5.4 | ❌ | v5.4 | v5.4 | v5.4 | v5.4 | Rear USB |
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|
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|
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|
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| USB Headers |
|
|
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||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Front USB |
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|
❌ |
|
|
❌ |
|
VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table
| CPU | Price | App_Performance | Game_Performance | TDP/Max | C/SC/T | L2/L3 Cache | Base/Boost | Code Name | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$0
|
0.0%
|
52.1%
|
74.9%
|
65 W / 121 W | 14 / 8 / 14 | 3072.0 kB / 24.0 MB | 3.50 GHz / 5.10 GHz | Arrow Lake-S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU | |
|
$346
|
0.0%
|
49.2%
|
74.2%
|
65 W / 121 W | 14 / 8 / 14 | 3072.0 kB / 24.0 MB | 3.40 GHz / 5.00 GHz | Arrow Lake-S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 24EU | |
|
$179
|
0.0%
|
43.4%
|
72.6%
|
65 W / 121 W | 10 / 4 / 10 | 3072.0 kB / 20.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.90 GHz | Arrow Lake-S | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU | |
|
$165
|
↑
0.1%
|
43.4%
|
72.6%
|
65 W / 121 W | 10 / 4 / 10 | 3072.0 kB / 20.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.90 GHz | Arrow Lake-S | None |
Official Manufacturer Data
Memory:
Support up to 9066+MT/s (OC), ECC and Non-ECC Un-buffered, Clocked Unbuffered DIMM (CUDIMM)*
Dual channel memory architecture
Supports DIMM Fit
Supports DIMM Flex
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory module
ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile III (AEMP III)
* Supported memory types, data rate (speed), and number of DRAM modules vary depending on the CPU and memory configuration, for more information please refer to CPU/Memory Support list under the Support tab of product information site or visit https://www.asus.com/support/download-center/.
* *Non-ECC, un-buffered DDR5 memory supports On-Die ECC function.
Graphics:
1 x Intel® Thunderbolt™ 4 port (USB Type-C®) support DisplayPort and Thunderbolt™ video outputs***
1 x VGA port from AST2600
* Graphics specifications may vary between CPU types. Please refer to www.intel.com for any updates.
**Supports 4K@60Hz as specified in HDMI 2.1.
***In Thunderbolt™ 4 mode, supports up to 8K@60Hz x1 with DSC, maximum total bandwidth up to 23.8Gbps, for resolution support please check DisplayPort 2.1 specs. In DP alt mode, supports up to UHBR20.
Storage:
Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2)
M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)
M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2280 (supports PCIe4.0 x4 mode)
Intel® W880 Chipset**
M.2_3 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
M.2_4 slot (Key M), type 2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
SlimSAS_1 connector supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode or up to 4 SATA devices via an adapter cable. The cable is purchased separately. **
4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
* Intel® Rapid Storage Technology supports PCIe RAID 0/1/5/10, SATA RAID 0/1/5/10, M.2 slot from CPU only supports RAID 0/1/5.
**SlimSAS connector connected to a U.2 device via an adapter cable does not support VMD/RST.
Expansion Slots:
2 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots*** (supports x16 or x8/x8 modes)**
Intel® W880 Chipset**
1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (supports x4 mode)**
USB:
1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 port (1 x USB Type-C®)
1 x USB 20Gbps port (1 x USB Type-C®)
6 x USB 10Gbps ports (6 x Type-A)
Front USB (Total 7 ports)
1 x USB 20Gbps connector (supports USB Type-C®)
1 x USB 5Gbps header supports 2 additional USB 5Gbps ports
2 x USB 2.0 headers supports 4 additional USB 2.0 ports
Internal I/O:
1 x 4-pin CPU Fan header
1 x 4-pin CPU OPT Fan header
5 x 4-pin Chassis Fan headers
1 x W_PUMP+ header
Power Related
1 x 24-pin Main Power connector
2 x 8-pin +12V CPU Power connector
Storage Related
4 x M.2 slots (Key M)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
1 x SlimSAS connector
USB
1 x USB 20Gbps connector (supports USB Type-C® )
1 x USB 5Gbps header supports 2 additional USB 5Gbps ports
2 x USB 2.0 header supports 4 additional USB 2.0 ports
Miscellaneous
1 x Chassis Intrusion header
1 x COM Port header
1 x Front Panel Audio header (F_AUDIO)
1 x 10-1 pin Front Panel System header
1 x Thermal Sensor header
1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header
Back Panel I/O:
1 x USB 20Gbps port (1 x USB Type-C®)
6 x USB 10Gbps ports (6 x Type-A)
1 x HDMI™ port
2 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet port
1 x Realtek 1Gb Ethernet dedicated for AST2600
1 x VGA port from AST2600
2 x Audio jacks
1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button
1 x Clear CMOS button
1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB Type-C® port
1 x USB 20Gbps port (1 x USB Type-C®)
6 x USB 10Gbps ports (6 x Type-A)
1 x HDMI™ port
2 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet port
1 x Realtek 1Gb Ethernet dedicated for AST2600
1 x VGA port from AST2600
2 x Audio jacks
1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button
1 x Clear CMOS button
Audio:
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- Internal audio Amplifier to enhance the highest quality sound for headphone and speakers
- Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR recording input (Line-in)
- Supports up to 32-Bit/192 kHz playback*"
Special Features:
- DIGI+ VRM (- Digital power design with DrMOS)
- ESD Guards
- LANGuard
- Overvoltage protection
- SafeSlot Core+
- Stainless-steel back I/O
ASUS Q-Design
- M.2 Q-Latch
- Q-Code
- Q-Connector
- Q-DIMM
- Q-LED (CPU [red], DRAM [yellow], VGA [white], Boot Device [yellow green])
- Q-Slot
ASUS Thermal Solution
- M.2 heatsink
- VRM heatsink design
ASUS EZ DIY
- BIOS FlashBack™ button
- BIOS FlashBack™ LED
- Clear CMOS button
- CPU Socket lever protector
- ProCool II
- SafeSlot
- SafeDIMM
Bespoke Motherboard Design & Business Focused Features
- 24/7 reliability
- Overcurrent protection
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